Near Karkadiotissa village in Heraklion, there are traces of the deserted settlement of Agalantes. It is often confused with the area occupied by the Monastery of Astratigos, however Agalantes is located a few meters away, on a hill called "Monodetri". Remains of this forgotten settlement include the ruins of a church, which is said to have been dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is a small temple that possibly had wall murals. A few scattered stones, among the oaks, olives and carob trees, are testament to the houses of the village which was deserted due to plague.

The first reference to this settlement is found in the Inventory of Feuds at the end of the 13th century. Tradition says that 60 young women lived there, who "left the keys on the doors" as the plague hit suddenly and left no one alive. A 1956 study by Emmanuel Petraki states that the information about the plague that ravaged Agalantes, is confirmed by the existence of a Prayer Rule, composed especially for the nearby monastery of Agios Georgios the Panosifis. The Rule in question includes two prayers to the Virgin Mary and makes mention of barbarian raiding, plague, shortage of water and locust swarms, in addition to the general impoverishment of the area due to war.